Buffs battle rain to take program’s first known regional golf title

by Beth Kraft

The Mondovi golf team added another plaque to its collection this year, golfing through wet conditions that gave way to downpours at times to take the WIAA Division 3 regional title at Drugans Castle Mound in Holmen on Tuesday, May 26.

Mondovi beat out second place Cochrane-Fountain City by a single stroke, 350 to 351, repeating a similar outcome from the Dunn-St. Croix Conference meet the week prior.

Head coach Dave Fath says he knew at the beginning of the season that the conference and regional titles were well within his team’s reach this spring.

The 2015 squad holds three seasoned returning varsity golfers plus one key addition in senior Mattie Mahlum.

Senior Hayden Ford, junior Cole Kamla and Mahlum all placed in the top five to help boost Mondovi to the regional title—the first and only known regional championship in program history, according to Mondovi athletic director Randy Pongratz.

“Going into it we knew it was going to be a dog fight between us and C-FC,” said Ford, who took second at Regionals with an 84, just one stroke behind Melrose-Mindoro’s Logan Vaningan.

Mondovi found itself six strokes off the lead after the front nine, but the group kept fighting to get back in it—and to stay dry.

“That was harder than actually golfing,” said Ford of the rain, noting everyone struggled to keep their clubs dry.

The Mondovi golfers agreed rain came down during all but four or five holes on the 18-hole course that afternoon.

Mahlum explained Mondovi was trailing by one while waiting for the last group of golfers to finish when Ford gained two strokes on the rest of the field, putting Mondovi in the lead.

After the Buffaloes were announced as regional champs, “it was a weight off our shoulders,” said Ford.

“The kids played well in the rain,” commented Fath. “All the teams kept playing through it.”

Mahlum and Kamla tied for fourth place with 85s. Freshman Garrett Gifford and junior Greg Poeschel also golfed solidly, carding scores of 96 and 98, respectively, to help sew up the top spot for Mondovi.

Fath says Mondovi got plenty of practice against tough opponents in conference play this year. Glenwood City, who Mondovi edged out for the 2015 DSC title by one stroke, won its regional meet.

In her first season golfing with the Buffaloes’ squad after coming to Mondovi halfway through last year as a junior, Mahlum’s name has appeared near the top of the rankings all season.

“All the guys are really fun to be around,” said Mahlum of her experience with the team this spring.

Mondovi competed at the Mineral Point sectional at Dodge Point Country Club on Tuesday, June 2, and the squad hoped to turn out another top performance as a group.

Fath said the Buffaloes had a shot at sticking with the competition at Sectionals if the team continues to golf at a high level.

Drier course conditions probably wouldn’t hurt, either.